Black Sabbath have announced plans to release their first ever official book.
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The Masters of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter will document the metal band’s history from their formation in Birmingham in the late 1960s to their epic final ‘Back To The Beginning‘ show in July 2025.
Created by photographer Ross Halfin, a long-time friend of the band, it will also feature a huge wealth of rare photographs and memorabilia, in the huge 500 page volume.
The book will be published in three separate editions in October, via Rufus Publications, and can be pre-ordered here.
The Masters of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter was in production two years ago and was set to be released after their ‘Back To The Beginning’ concert last July but Ozzy Osbourne’s death shortly after held up its release.
“Ozzy and Sharon wanted the book out soon after the final show in Birmingham but Ozzy suddenly passing away caused the music world to stop,” said Halfin.
“Ozzy was fully involved with the book and he signed the book plates months before the final show, as did all the band members. So now, we all thought the time was right, one year after ‘Back To The Beginning’, to announce the project. A book we all feel celebrates both Black Sabbath and Ozzy and illustrates just how important they are. I hope fans enjoy it.”
The book comes in three different formats – The Super Deluxe Signed Metal Edition, which is printed on silk art paper.
According to a press release, this edition “is bound in a hand-tooled brushed metal cover with a recycled leather spine with purple-and-white foil embossing. The book also comes in a recycled leather clamshell box plus two exclusive limited-edition giclée prints inside”.
Only 200 numbered copies of this edition, which retails at £950, are available and each one features a unique book plate, hand-signed by Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
Also available is a Super Deluxe signed edition priced at £650, which is bound in black, recycled leather with purple-and-white foil debossing plus an inlaid print of the band from 1970. The book also comes “in a recycled leather clamshell box with a white foiled ‘Henry’ the flying devil on the front plus a limited-edition giclée print inside”.
The Standard Edition meanwhile, which retails at £99, features a printed, foiled cover and comes in a cloth slipcase with a white foiled ‘Henry’ on the front.
Elsewhere, earlier this week Sharon Osbourne shared a tribute to her late husband on their first wedding anniversary since his death.
The couple married in Hawaii on July 4, 1982, and remained together, despite a brief separation in 2016, for 43 years until his death. They renewed their vows in 2017, and together they raised three children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack.
Sharon’s statement came after she responded to those who were calling an upcoming AI avatar of Ozzy a “cash grab” – telling them that she “doesn’t need your fucking money”.
News of an AI avatar of the Prince Of Darkness was confirmed by Sharon in May, as well as by their son Jack, during a discussion about the future of Ozzy’s brand at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.
Amid the skepticism, Jack spoke about the plans on his YouTube channel and said that they were focused on keeping it “tasteful” and determined to make sure it wasn’t “lame”.
As well as announcing the AI avatar to preserve the legacy of the Black Sabbath frontman, Jack has also confirmed that a biopic about his parents is “absolutely” happening and is looking at a 2028 release.
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